By the way, here is the gun that I used: Savage 110 (of the south-paw variety), Burris 3-12x44 AO
New 30-06 Load... good day at the range
Here are some targets from two different loads that I tried out yesterday. These loads both used W760 (~51.5 grains and ~51.8 grains), Wolf large rifle primers, Speer 180 grain Spitzer Point Boat Tail bullets seated to a COL of ~3.305, and a light/medium crimp using a Lee factory crimp die. The weather conditions were around 55 F, dead calm, and light drizzle. All shots were made from a bench with a 6-9" Harris-style bipod and sandbags under the butt. I started out a couple weeks ago at the near starting load of ~50.2 grains, and then I worked up from there. I had very limited success with grouping until yesterday.
Up until a couple weeks ago when I loaded up my first 30-06 handloads, I had always used cheap-ish Remington or Winchester factory loads, with very limited success (2-4" groups on a regular basis). I knew the gun was capable of MUCH better performance, so I was starting to think that I just sucked that bad. I was getting a bit discouraged to say the least.
Well, yesterday was a little different for me. The first target is with the 51.5 grain loads. The second and third targets are both shot with the 51.8 grain loads. I noticed that the holes on the 51.5 grain loads were rather jagged and, as you can see, they didn't group very well at all. When I switched to the 51.8 grain load, I immediately shot the tightest group that I have ever shot out of the gun. I was elated! The next target with that load was not quite as good, but I'll still take it (never mind the flyer
).
Here are the targets.
Up until a couple weeks ago when I loaded up my first 30-06 handloads, I had always used cheap-ish Remington or Winchester factory loads, with very limited success (2-4" groups on a regular basis). I knew the gun was capable of MUCH better performance, so I was starting to think that I just sucked that bad. I was getting a bit discouraged to say the least.
Well, yesterday was a little different for me. The first target is with the 51.5 grain loads. The second and third targets are both shot with the 51.8 grain loads. I noticed that the holes on the 51.5 grain loads were rather jagged and, as you can see, they didn't group very well at all. When I switched to the 51.8 grain load, I immediately shot the tightest group that I have ever shot out of the gun. I was elated! The next target with that load was not quite as good, but I'll still take it (never mind the flyer
).Here are the targets.
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By the way, .729 is pretty awesome also, and I would have been tickled pink if that would have been my results. The 1/2" group that I managed to get surprised the hell out of me. I was definitely not expecting anything that good. I feel very lucky to have found a round so quickly that works well. I know it normally takes a bit more time than that. But, that's fine by me... I'll take "lucky" any day.
Actually, I looked back just now, and you had the right group size listed in your post. I just transposed it incorrectly. Either way, that's a great group size in my book. :thumb:
I'll give a 5- or 7-shot group a try next time I go to the range (using the same bipod and sandbag setup again) and see what happens. I honestly don't know how consistent I can be at this point. However, with two groups in a row under an inch though, it does boost my confidence in my shooting fundamentals a bit, and that's probably a good thing for me. But, who knows, I may have just gotten lucky. Like I said in an earlier post, I was beginning to have serious doubts about my abilities before last weekend, so I'm really not sure what I'm capable of. If it goes the same way it usually does when I shoot handguns, I will probably have some really good days, with quite a few not so good days mixed in. Oh well. That's what makes it fun. I like the challenge. I guess I'll find out soon.
I'll try to produce a couple more sub-MOA groups before ditching the sandbags, just in an effort to further prove the gun's capabilities with this round in my mind. I figure that once I've done that, I have no one to blame but myself when I have crappy range days in the future.
But, I also don't want to get too dependent on the sandbags because I don't fancy myself as being a benchrest-type shooter. I've always had more of a "hunter mentality" with shooting, meaning that I want to know what I can honestly do with my gun in the field under less-than-ideal conditions. Nothing at all wrong with benchrest shooting, I just don't envision myself doing much of it. Although, I have to say that it is pretty rewarding when I see small group sizes, regardless of what method is used to put them on the paper.
Sound about right to me.Actually, I looked back just now, and you had the right group size listed in your post. I just transposed it incorrectly. Either way, that's a great group size in my book. :thumb:
I'll give a 5- or 7-shot group a try next time I go to the range (using the same bipod and sandbag setup again) and see what happens. I honestly don't know how consistent I can be at this point. However, with two groups in a row under an inch though, it does boost my confidence in my shooting fundamentals a bit, and that's probably a good thing for me. But, who knows, I may have just gotten lucky. Like I said in an earlier post, I was beginning to have serious doubts about my abilities before last weekend, so I'm really not sure what I'm capable of. If it goes the same way it usually does when I shoot handguns, I will probably have some really good days, with quite a few not so good days mixed in. Oh well. That's what makes it fun. I like the challenge. I guess I'll find out soon.
I'll try to produce a couple more sub-MOA groups before ditching the sandbags, just in an effort to further prove the gun's capabilities with this round in my mind. I figure that once I've done that, I have no one to blame but myself when I have crappy range days in the future.
Nothing wrong on finding the ammo that your firearm likes best and then trying to see what you can do off hand since your going for hunting.
Kinda funny how we are doing the same thing. Bench rest shooting for max accuracy then trying off hand to see what it would be like in the field.
Let us know how it goes!
That sounds like good advice. Yeah, I'm hoping that I didn't just get lucky, but I would honestly be happy with anything that groups under 1 MOA. That was actually all I was really hoping for at this point. Of course, I would love to have tighter groups, but I tried not to set my goals too high being so new to reloading. If I can't reproduce good groups the next time, I just hope that I'm able to tell if it is me or the round that needs a bit of adjustment.
I guess I'll just have give it a go and see what happens.
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